Road deaths in Ohio, Stark drop in 2013

Monday

Dec 30, 2013 at 7:00 AM

Ohio is likely to record the least deadly year on state roadways. As Jan. 1 approached, the number of fatalities for 2013 was fewer than 950, according to the state Highway Patrol. The state never has had fewer than 1,000 deaths per year since reporting began in 1936.

Kelly Byer CantonRep.com staff writer @kbyerREP

Ohio is likely to record the least deadly year on state roadways.

As Jan. 1 approached, the number of fatalities for 2013 was fewer than 950, according to the state Highway Patrol. The state never has had fewer than 1,000 deaths per year since reporting began in 1936.

Vehicle accidents accounted for 2,389 deaths that year, according to numbers from the Ohio Department of Transportation. The deadliest year was 1969, with 2,778 deaths. Fatalities have steadily declined since then, and transportation and Highway Patrol officials cite road-safety projects and patrols targeting impaired drivers.

"The overall decline in traffic-related fatalities over the last several years is due to improvement in vehicle safety, improvement in safety belt use and roadway improvements," said Staff Lt. Joel Smith of the Canton Patrol post.

Drunken drivers and people not wearing seat belts are the two greatest factors contributing to fatal accidents in Ohio. Of the 1,122 deaths in 2012, 470 were alcohol-related and 419 were drivers or passengers not wearing a seat belt, according to the Ohio Department of Transportation.

In Stark County, 12 of this year's 25 deaths involved impaired drivers, said Smith. He estimated 35 percent to 40 percent of crashes are alcohol- or drug-related.

"So obviously, we spend a lot of time trying to combat that," Smith said.

Troopers are trained to identify impaired drivers by looking for people who are speeding, driving without headlights or swerving between lanes, said Sgt. Jon DeWitt. They continue to observe the driver's actions during the traffic stop, and if they smell alcohol or notice abnormalities in a person's speech or movement, troopers conduct a field test to help determine sobriety.

"The very first thing starts with a proactive trooper," DeWitt said.

Aside from targeting drunk and drug-impaired drivers, he said the Highway Patrol assigns troopers to areas where crashes often occur.

ODOT does its part by adding safety features to reduce crashes caused by loss of control. Spokesman Brent Kovacs of ODOT District 4, which includes Stark County, said the department adds these during regular construction projects.

"The rumble strips, anytime we do a resurfacing project, we put them in if they're not there already," he said.

Rumble strips are road features added to the center line and shoulder that create noise and vibrate when driven over. They are meant to alert drivers when they are nearing the edge.

ODOT's other safety projects include guardrail upgrades, cable median barriers, wider pavement markings, larger reflective signs near curves and other projects to decrease traffic congestion. Kovacs said signal battery backups are being placed at the busiest intersections, but ODOT intends eventually to add them elsewhere. Deep ditch enclosures are an ongoing project.

"Every year, more get checked off the list," Kovacs said.

The department reports spending more than $100 million each year on safety improvements.